Auruccio named as Heartland men’s tennis player of the week

OC sophomore Nicolas Auruccio has been named as the Heartland Conference's men's tennis player of the week.

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 18, 2013) – Oklahoma Christian sophomore Nicolas Auruccio was named Monday as the Heartland Conference’s men’s tennis player of the week.

Auruccio, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, posted a pair of singles wins, including one in a match against one of the top teams in NCAA Division II. No. 10-ranked OC lost to No. 4 Barry (Fla.) 6-3 on Sunday, but Auruccio beat Alejandro Andino 6-3, 6-1 after dropping a doubles match with partner Julio Pulido by an 8-4 count.

On Saturday, in an 8-1 win over Northwood (Fla.), Auruccio and Pulido beat David Cathalina and Nikita Borodatov 8-5 in doubles, then Auruccio followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Jacob Aplund in singles play.

Auruccio's solid play at the No. 5 singles position is a big reason the Eagles are 7-2 and ranked No. 10 nationally. His 8-1 singles record this season is the second-best on the team and he and Pulido are 8-2 in doubles play.

Auruccio is the third OC player to win a Heartland player-of-the-week award this season, joining Martin Poboril and Pulido. Pulido has won the honor twice.

Auruccio also was named as the National Christian College Athletic Association student-athlete of the week earlier this season.